1 Peter 1:1

ECB ¹
SALUTATION
Petros, an apostle of Yah Shua Messiah: To the pilgrim diaspora throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Biyournia,

If 1 Peter was written to the Jews then so was 2 Peter.

2 Peter 3:1

CLV ¹ This is already, beloved, the second epistle I am writing to you in which I am rousing your sincere comprehension by a reminder”

1 Peter 2:12

KJV ¹² Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

We know for sure that James (Jacob) was written to the Jews because he specifically addresses the 12 tribes in the diaspora. Peter may be writing to a different diaspora among the nations, even though he primarily took the gospel to the Jews.

James 1:1

LITV ¹ James [Yacobus], a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion, greeting:

Hebrews leaves no doubt who the original audience was.

Hebrews 1:1-3

LITV ¹ In many parts and in many ways of old, God spoke to the [Hebrew] fathers in the prophets; ² in these last days He spoke to us [Hebrews] in the Son, whom He appointed heir of all; through whom He indeed made the ages; ³ who being the shining splendor of His glory, and the express image of His essence, and upholding all things by the word of His power, having made purification of our [Hebrew] sins through Himself, He sat down on the right of the Majesty on high, Psa. 110:1

1 John is written by a Jew who claims to represent the Jews. We are the witnesses of the life to the age. We Jews are inviting you to fellowship with us with the Father and with the Son.

1 John 1:3

CLV ³ That which we have seen and heard we are reporting to you also, that you too may be having fellowship with us, and yet this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.”

1 John 1:1-2

CLV ¹ That which was from the beginning, which we [Jews] have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, at which we gaze and our hands handle, is concerned with the word of life.” ² And the life was manifested, and we have seen and are testifying [witnessing] and reporting to you the life eonian which was toward the Father and was manifested to us.” – John 3:16

Peter was a Jew whose ministry was focused primarily to the Jews – Galatians 2:2. He was the first to preach to the Jews after the Holy Spirit arrived in Jerusalem. Even though the Jews set the stage for the death part of the gospel, over 3000 Jews were “cut to the heart” 53 days after the crucifixion, by Peter’s Holy-Spirit-enabled gospel message to the Jews. Peter was also used to break the Gentile barrier with the gospel.

Some people deduce with little evidence that Luke was the only non-Jewish writer of what we call the new testament. The new testament started when Jesus was resurrected in Jerusalem. It only had one new covenant member until Pentecost and He was of course Jewish. Even the letters that were later written to Gentile churches were all written by Jews. The faithful Jews wanted nothing more than to bolster the entire body of Christ.

The letter from James had to be written to Jews, since there were no Gentiles in the new covenant yet. It is better to call it the letter of Jacob since that is closer to the Greek and since Jacob addressed the 12 tribes; reminiscent of Jacob addressing his 12 sons on his deathbed, who had his name changed by God to Israel not to James from a 13th century French name. Jacob addressed the old covenant diaspora as it was on it’s deathbed. Diaspora was the deathbed. After Pentecost, curses remained on the double souled Jews. New covenant Jews were to snatch their brethren out of the old covenant fire before it was too late. The name James wasn’t even invented yet. The name James came into English from the French. The Greek word is transliterated Jacobus or Yacobus. Why do we make obscure so much Jewishness? Why are Bible translators so antisemite? Who were the witnesses of the Messiah if not the Jews? Had the Jews not received and declared the gospel, we would not have it. Some Jews did try to to keep the old covenant. They were not faithful witnesses, neither are we if we obscure the text.

James [Jacob] 1:7-8 – to the 12 tribes

LITV ⁷ for do not let that [Jewish] man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-souled man, not dependable in all his ways.

John 1:1-7

LITV ¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things came into being through Him, and without Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. ⁴ In Him was life, and the life was the light of men; ⁵ and the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it. ⁶ There was a man sent from God; his name was John. ⁷ He came for a witness, that he might witness concerning the Light, that all might believe through Him.

James [Jacob] 5:19-20 – to the 12 tribes

LITV ¹⁹ If anyone among you goes astray from the truth, brothers, and anyone turns him back, ²⁰ know that the one turning a sinner from the error of his way will save the soul from death, and will hide a multitude of sins.

Jude like Jacob urges his readers to “snatch out of the fire” (save) those who are perilously close to perishing. Perishing is permanent. Jude addresses the danger of falling for false teachers. The false teachers were in danger of destruction – Jude 1:13. They were also weakening the faith of others – Jude 1:10-12. Jude’s audience was advised to beware of those in open rebellion and help those who are being mislead.